Dental Instrument Camera Apparatus and Methods of Using the Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to dental instruments having video capabilities. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dental instrument having a video camera for viewing a user&#39;s or patient&#39;s mouth when utilizing the dental instrument. More specifically, the dental instrument provides video output to a wireless device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer or other like computer. Methods of using the same are further provided.

The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S.Provisional Patent App. No. 61/951,437, “Dental Instrument CameraApparatus and Methods of Using the Same,” filed Mar. 11, 2014, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to dental instruments having videocapabilities. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dentalinstrument having a video camera for viewing a user's or patient's mouthwhen utilizing the dental instrument. More specifically, the dentalinstrument provides video output to a wireless device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other like computer. Methods of using the sameare further provided.

BACKGROUND

Individuals have used dental instruments for centuries to care forteeth. Specifically, individuals primarily use toothbrushes and dentalfloss for brushing plaque from teeth and removing food debris frombetween teeth that otherwise may cause tooth decay and cavities. Indeed,humans have used some form of tooth care since the dawn of recordedhistory in the form of twigs or tooth picks. Bristly toothbrushes havebeen traced back to the Tang dynasty in early Chinese history.

Dentists are health practitioners that specialize in the diagnosis,prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.Specifically, dentists primarily take care of patients' teeth using avariety of instruments, including, for example, brushes, scalers,curettes, drills and other like instruments for cleaning and repairingteeth. In use, these instruments are typically placed inside the oralcavity of a patient and manipulated for their purpose to clean, restoreand/or repair teeth and tissue.

However, it is often difficult for a user of a dental instrument,whether an individual in his or her own mouth, or a dentist in apatient's mouth, to both utilize the particular instrument within theoral cavity and see what he or she is doing with the instrument.Specifically, it is often difficult to open one's mouth wide enough foran individual or dental practitioner to place the instrument orinstruments therein and to see. In many cases, work done on teeth ortissue within an oral cavity must be viewed at awkward angles dependingon where the work is being performed, and it is often difficult to allowsufficient light to shine within the oral cavity.

One solution involves utilizing directed light and/or mirrors to directthe light and allow a user to view teeth or tissue that may otherwise bedifficult to view. Specifically, a dental mirror or mouth mirror is arelatively small mirror surface attached to an instrument, typically atan angle so that both light can be directed into an oral cavity and anindividual or dental practitioner may see therein. Moreover, focusedlight sources, such as via strategically placed lamps or the like may beutilized to shine light into an oral cavity for more easily viewingteeth and tissue therein.

Other solutions may include dental props or retractors that may help towiden the oral cavity and prevent certain oral cavity features fromblocking views, such as tongues, lips, cheeks or the like. These propsor retractors may be utilized alone or together with light sources andmouth mirrors to gain better views within oral cavities.

Another solution involves utilizing cameras to see within oral cavitiesand aid an individual or a dental practitioner. An intraoral wandcamera, for example, may be utilized to view within an oral cavity.Cameras have the advantage of providing clearer images, and may bemagnified to show important features within an oral cavity. Thus, theintraoral cameras may be utilized not only to aid a dental practitionerin viewing the internal oral cavity, but to also show anotherindividual, such as the patient, features the dental practitioner wishesto show the patient.

However, typical intraoral cameras are often separate from instrumentsthat may be utilized to clean and/or treat teeth and tissue within anoral cavity. Thus, a user must manipulate both the camera and theinstrument. It is often difficult for a user to align the camera asneeded to view the region of the oral cavity that is being worked on bythe instrument.

In some cases, cameras may be utilized in conjunction with instruments.For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,823 mounts a camera to an instrumentat the location of the instrument's tool to help a dental practitionerview the region of the oral cavity worked on by the instrument. However,this involves the placement of a relatively bulky camera lens andhousing precisely at the position on the instrument that must be slenderand able to fit within tight locations within the oral cavity. Thus, theusage of the camera is limited, and the usage of the tool attachedthereto is also limited.

Moreover, placement of the camera at the location of the tool does notprovide an effective perspective for an individual or a dentalpractitioner to both utilize and view the oral cavity with the camera atthe same time. Specifically, when utilizing the tool, the camera isnecessarily placed in close proximity to the region of the oral cavityworked on by the tool. Indeed, the perspective is much too close to beable to adequately view the work being performed by the tool. Inpractice, one must utilize the tool without the benefit of the view fromthe camera, and then lift the tool away from the region worked on toview the results thereof.

A need, therefore, exists for a dental instrument camera apparatus thatallows easy viewing of an oral cavity. Specifically, a need exists for adental instrument camera apparatus that provides an individual a view ofhis or her oral cavity and/or for use by dental practitioners.

Moreover, a need exists for a dental instrument camera apparatus thatmay be utilized in conjunction with a tool on the dental instrument.More specifically, a need exists for a dental instrument cameraapparatus that may be utilized at the same time as the dental tool toprovide effective perspective by the user thereof at the time of usingthe tool.

In addition, a need exists for a dental instrument camera apparatus thatmay be combined with a light source for illumination of an oral cavitywhen viewed via the camera apparatus and the tool on the dentalinstrument. A need further exists for a dental instrument cameraapparatus that allows simultaneous use of each of the light source, thecamera and the tool.

Further, a need exists for a dental instrument camera apparatus that maybe further utilized with known techniques for viewing within oralcavities, such as via utilizing external light sources and/or mirroredsurfaces for directing light and/or directing views in hard to seeregions of the oral cavity. Still further a need exists for a dentalinstrument camera apparatus that may allow a user, such as an individualor a dental practitioner, to view video wirelessly on a viewing device,such as a computer, tablet, smart phone, or other like viewing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dental instruments having videocapabilities. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dentalinstrument having a video camera for viewing a user's or patient's mouthwhen utilizing the dental instrument. More specifically, the dentalinstrument provides video output to a wireless device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other like computer. Methods of using the sameare further provided.

To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a dental toolapparatus is provided. The dental tool apparatus comprises: a housingand a first end and a second end, wherein on the first end of thehousing is a lens for a camera and a dental instrument extending fromthe first end of the housing, the dental instrument having a workingtip, wherein the camera has a line of sight in line with the working tipof the dental instrument.

In an embodiment, the dental tool apparatus comprises an aperture in thefirst end of the housing, wherein the dental instrument extends from theaperture.

In an embodiment, dental instrument is removably attachable to thehousing within the aperture.

In an embodiment, the dental tool apparatus further comprises: at leastone light source on the first end of the housing for illuminating theworking tip of the dental instrument.

In an embodiment, the at least one light source is a light emittingdiode.

In an embodiment, the dental tool apparatus further comprises a motorwithin the housing for moving the dental instrument.

In an embodiment, the motor is coupled to a power source.

In an embodiment, the power source is rechargeable.

In an embodiment, the dental tool apparatus further comprises: acontroller associated with the dental tool apparatus for controlling thedental tool apparatus.

In an embodiment, the dental instrument is selected from the groupconsisting of a powered dental brush, a gum stimulator, a mirror, a pickand a scaler.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a dental toolsystem is provided. The dental tool system comprises: a dental toolapparatus comprising a housing, a first end and a second end, wherein onthe first end of the housing is a lens for a camera and a dentalinstrument extending from the first end of the housing, the dentalinstrument having a working tip, wherein the camera has a line of sightin line with the working tip of the dental instrument; and a displayassociated with the dental tool apparatus for displaying images from thelens on the first end of the housing.

In an embodiment, the dental tool system further comprises: a base,wherein the dental tool apparatus is removably attachable to the base.

In an embodiment, the base comprises a recharging element, and furtherwherein the dental tool apparatus is electrically recharged whenattached to the base.

In an embodiment, the display is wirelessly connected to the dental toolapparatus.

In an embodiment, the dental tool system further comprises: a pluralityof holders within the base, wherein the base holds a plurality of dentalinstrument inserts within the holders.

In an embodiment, the display is a smart phone or a tablet computer.

In an embodiment, the dental tool apparatus further comprises aprocessing board.

In an embodiment, the processing board comprises a controller forcontrolling the dental tool apparatus.

In an embodiment, the processing board processes video that is receivedby the dental tool apparatus via the lens.

In an embodiment, the processing board wirelessly sends video to thedisplay.

It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention toprovide a dental instrument camera apparatus that allows easy viewing ofan oral cavity.

Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present inventionto provide a dental instrument camera apparatus that provides anindividual a view of his or her oral cavity and/or for use by dentalpractitioners.

Moreover, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention toprovide a dental instrument camera apparatus that may be utilized inconjunction with a tool on the dental instrument.

More specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the presentinvention to provide a dental instrument camera apparatus that may beutilized at the same time as the dental tool to provide effectiveperspective by the user thereof at the time of using the tool.

In addition, it is an advantage and objective of the present inventionto provide a dental instrument camera apparatus that may be combinedwith a light source for illumination of an oral cavity when viewed viathe camera apparatus and the tool on the dental instrument.

It is a further advantage and objective of the present invention toprovide a dental instrument camera apparatus that allows simultaneoususe of each of the light source, the camera and the tool.

Further, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention toprovide a dental instrument camera apparatus that may be furtherutilized with known techniques for viewing within oral cavities, such asvia utilizing external light sources and/or mirrored surfaces fordirecting light and/or directing views in hard to see regions of theoral cavity.

Still further, it is an advantage and objective of the present inventionto provide a dental instrument camera apparatus that may allow a user,such as an individual or a dental practitioner, to view video wirelesslyon a viewing device, such as a computer, tablet, smart phone, or otherlike viewing device.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dental tool system forrecording and/or viewing video and/or still photographs from a dentaltool in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a dental tool having a cameratherein in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a dental tool having a camera thereinin an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a dental tool having a camera and aplurality of dental tool instrument inserts in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an attachment for a dental toolin an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an attachment for a dental tool in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an attachment for a dental toolin an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an attachment for a dental tool in analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a dental instrument in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cut-away side view of a dental instrument in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate attachments for a dental instrument in anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to dental instruments having videocapabilities. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dentalinstrument having a video camera for viewing a user's or patient's mouthwhen utilizing the dental instrument. More specifically, the dentalinstrument provides video output to a wireless device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other like computer. Methods of using the sameare further provided.

Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts,FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 of the present invention, comprising,generally, a dental tool 12, a plurality of dental tool instrument toolinserts 14, a base 16, and a display device 18 for displaying videothereon. The dental tool 12 is illustrated and described in more detailbelow with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

The base 16 may hold the dental tool 12, the plurality of tool inserts14, and may further hold the display device 18. Specifically, the base16 may operate as a charging cradle for holding and/or charging thedental tool instrument 12 and/or the display device 18. Morespecifically, the base 16 may comprise a plurality of apertures orcradles for holding the dental tool 12 and the plurality of dental toolinserts 14.

The display device 18 may rest on or within a platform 20. The platform20 may be angled so as to allow the display device 18 to be viewable bya user of the dental tool instrument 12 and/or a patient. The platform20 may be adjustable so as to tilt or otherwise reposition the displaydevice 18 for better view thereon, and may have a frame, flanges orother like holders for holding the display device 18 thereon or therein.

The display device 18 may preferably be a smart phone, such as aniPhone®, an Android® phone, a tablet computer, such as an iPad®, orother like display device that allows streaming video to be wirelesslysent from the dental tool 12, as described in more detail below. Thedisplay device 18 may preferably receive the wireless streaming videofrom the dental tool 12 via any manner apparent to one of ordinary skillin the art, such as via WiFi, 3G cellular telephone networks,Bluetooth®, or other like data transmission protocol, and via any videocodec, such as MPEG4, M-JPEG or other like video codec.

The plurality of dental tool inserts 14 may be any dental toolinstruments that may be useful for a dental practitioner to clean,repair, or otherwise tend to a patient's oral cavity. Common dental toolinstruments may include brushes, scalers, mirrors, probes, syringes,drills, burs, excavators, burnishers, excavators, elevators, forceps,curettes, and any other like instrument that may be usefully employedfrom the dental tool instrument 12. In addition, it should be noted thatthe present invention may allow a plurality of instruments to beutilized at the same time, such as, for example, a dental mirror and ascaler to aid in the use of the scaler, as described in more detailbelow with respect to FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cut-away perspective view of the dental tool 12 inan embodiment of the present invention. The dental tool 12 may generallycomprise a housing 30 in which may be contained a camera 32 having alens 34 for shooting video and/or still photographs, one or moreprocessing boards 36, a rechargeable battery 38, a power cable 40, acharging input means 42, and a dental instrument insert aperture 44 forholding one or a plurality of dental instrument inserts 14. One or morelight sources (not shown) may further be provided for directingillumination at the dental instrument insert 14 and/or the patient'soral cavity. The housing may be sealed and made of a material resistantto a moist environment, such as a metal or plastic, as apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art.

In use, a user, such as a dental practitioner, may insert a dentalinstrument insert 14 into the dental instrument aperture 44, which maysecurely hold the dental instrument therein, such as via clamping means,frictional resistance means or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thecamera lens 34 is positioned on an end of the housing 30 and directedtoward the tip of the dental instrument insert 14, providing arelatively wide viewing cone 52 for seeing the patient's oral cavity andthe dental tool used within the patient's oral cavity. Specifically, thelens 34 may be adjacent the shaft of the dental instrument insert 14 andmay provide a line-of-sight 50 for the camera that is roughly parallelwith the shaft of the dental instrument insert 14. Thus, the dentalinstrument insert 14 and, specifically, the working tip of the dentalinstrument insert 14, may be easily viewable by the user of the dentaltool 12 and/or the patient via the camera 32. In a preferred embodiment,the lens 34 may be aimed directly at the working tip of the dentalinstrument insert 14 for specific and precise viewing of the working tipof the dental instrument insert 14. One or more light sources (notshown), such as LEDs or the like, may further be used to illuminate thedental instrument insert 14 and/or the patient's oral cavity.

In a preferred embodiment, a dental mirror may be utilized to allow thecamera 32 to record video and/or still photographs of an area that isninety degrees, or any other angle, to the line-of-sight 50 of thecamera 32, such as within a patient's oral cavity. Moreover, anillumination source emanating from the dental tool 12 may further bereflected off the dental mirror to aid in illuminating a patient's oralcavity.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dental tool 12 may include at least twodental instruments 60, 62, that may work together to allow a userthereof to more effectively utilize the dental tool 12 to clean and/orrepair a patient's oral cavity. For example, and as illustrated in FIG.4, the dental tool 12 may comprise the first dental instrument 60, whichmay be utilized to clean and/or repair teeth and/or tissue within apatient's oral cavity. Moreover, the dental tool 12 may further comprisethe second dental instrument 62, such as a dental mirror, for allowingthe user to see better the use of the dental instrument 12 within thepatient's oral cavity. Of course, any dental instruments may be utilizedtogether, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the present invention should notbe limited as described herein.

The camera 32 may thus be utilized to record and/or view within apatient's oral cavity where it may otherwise be difficult for the userand/or a patient to see. The dental tool 12 may use the dentalinstrument insert 14 thereon for working on teeth and/or tissue and thecamera 32 may provide real-time video as the insert 14 is being used,streaming the video to the display device 18 or another display devicethat may accept the video stream wirelessly sent from the dental tool12. Alternatively, the dental tool 12 may record video therein and/orprocess the video for streaming to a storage device, such as a smartphone or computer memory. Although the present invention shows a singledisplay device 18, any number of display devices may be wirelesslyconnected to the dental tool 12 and may receive the video therefrom.

FIG. 5 illustrates an attachment 100 that may be utilized on a dentaltool 12 as disclosed herein, and may be utilized as a swappableattachment that may be attached to and/or removed from the dental tool12. Specifically, the attachment 100 may comprise a base 102 that mayalign with a mating receptacle on the dental tool 12 so that the base102 may be inserted into the mating receptacle. A slot 104 may bedisposed in the base 102 for aligning with a flange or nub in thereceptacle to ensure that the attachment 100 is aligned properly. Thebase may further have a collar 106 at an end of the base 102 to preventthe base 102 from being inserted too far into the mating receptacle.

A stem 108 may extend from the base, and may have an angle 110 where thestem may be bent roughly about 45 degrees thereby forming a first stemsection 111, and may further have a second bend 112 where the stem maybe bent roughly 90 degrees thereby forming a second stem section 113. Ata terminal end of the stem 108 may be a mirror 114 that may be angled atroughly 45 degrees relative to the base 106, based on the various bendsin the stem 108, to allow the camera having a view roughly parallel withthe base 106, to view inside a person's mouth when the attachment 100 isused on the dental tool 12. Extending from the step 108 may be a dentalinstrument 116, which may be, for example, a double-sided pick forengaging with a person's mouth, teeth, gums, or other like features. Thedouble-sided pick may be utilized to engage a person's mouth in onedirection by using one of the picks 118 and the double-sided pick may beutilized to engage a person's mouth in another direction by using theother pick 120.

FIG. 6 illustrates the attachment 100 in an end-view, showing the base102, slot 104 and collar 106, and further showing the double-sided pickdental instrument 116 that may be utilized to engage a person's mouth,and the mirror 114 that may be utilized to allow the camera view insidethe person's mouth when utilized.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an attachment 150 has abase 152 with a slot 154 and collar 156 for engaging a mating receptacleon the dental tool 12. Further, the attachment may have a stem 158extending from the base 152 having a mirror 164 thereon, as describedabove. A double-sided dental instrument 166 may be utilized, such as adouble-sided scalar to engage a user's mouth.

Because the slot 154 is disposed on an opposite side of the base 152, ascompared to base 102, described above, the mirror 164 and the dentalinstrument 166 may be disposed in an opposite direction than the dentalinstrument 116 and mirror 114, describe above, which may allow thedental instrument 166 to be utilized in a different manner than thedental instrument 116, described above. FIG. 8 shows the attachment 150as it would be positioned when attached to the dental tool 12.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a perspective view of a dental instrument 200is illustrated. The dental instrument 200 may comprise a body 202 and adental instrument insert 204 extending from an end of the body 202 foruse on a patient's oral cavity. Disposed adjacent the dental instrumentinsert 204 may be a camera lens 206. The camera lens 206 may allow animage or a video to be recorded, and may preferably have a line of sightthat is roughly parallel with the dental instrument insert 204 extendingfrom the body 202 of the dental instrument 200 and may be aimed at theworking tip of the dental instrument insert 204. However, the cameralens 206 may further have a relatively wide angle to record or show arelatively large viewing field. Thus, the dental instrument 200 maydisplay images and/or video of the working tip of the dental instrumentinsert 204 and, especially, during use of the same in a patient's oralcavity. In a preferred embodiment, the dental instrument 200 may have aplurality of lights 208, such as, for example, LEDs that may be ring thelens 206 and provide a sufficient light source for the recording and/orviewing of images and/or video. In another embodiment, the lights may beultraviolet lights or a combination of visible and ultraviolet lightsthat may aid a user of the dental instrument 200 in viewing plaque on apatient's tooth, or for curing epoxies and the like within a patient'soral cavity.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cut-away side view of the dental instrument 200,in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, the dentalinstrument 200 may comprise the afore-mentioned dental instrument insert204 that may preferably be removable from the body 202 so as to bereplaceable with other dental instrument inserts, as shown below withrespect to FIGS. 11A-11C. The dental instrument inset 204 may be placedwithin an aperture in the body 202, and when disposed therein may bemechanically tied to a motor and transmission 210, which may beelectrically tied to a battery/power source 212 within the body 202. Thedental instrument 200 may be powered via the battery/power source 212,and may preferably be rechargeable via charging element 214, which maybe electrically coupled with a power source for charging thebattery/power source 212, as needed.

The lens 206 and lights 208 may be disposed on end of the body on thesame end as the dental instrument insert 204, such that the camera lensand lights may facilitate the recording and/or viewing of the dentalinstrument insert 204 when in use within a patient's oral cavity.Coupled to the lens 206 and lights 208 may be a main PCB board 216 thatmay control the recording and viewing of the images and/or video throughthe lens 206, and may further control the lights 208. The main PCB board216 may allow a user to turn on or off the lens 206 for the recordingand/or viewing of the same, or may allow a user to turn on or off thelights 208, as needed.

Thus, when in use, a user may insert a dental instrument insert 204 intothe aperture of the body 202 of the dental instrument 200. The dentalinstrument 200 may have previously been coupled to a display device (notshown), either wired or, preferably, wirelessly, for viewing and/orrecording images and/or video via lens 206. The user may have theability to control the turning on or off of the lens 206 and/or thelights 208 via the display device (not shown), via the body 202, or viaany other means or mechanism to control the same.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate various examples of dental instrument inserts204 that may be utilized in the present invention. As illustrated inFIGS. 9-10, a powered dental brush may be the dental instrument insert204. Alternatively, the dental instrument may be a gum stimulator 250(as illustrated in FIG. 11A), a mirror 260 (as illustrated in FIG. 11B),a pick/scaler 270. Of course any instrument insert may be used, and thepresent invention should not be limited herein.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, referencesthroughout the specification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and itshould be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant todescribe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the inventionillustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absenceof any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

I claim:
 1. A dental tool apparatus comprising: a housing and a firstend and a second end, wherein on the first end of the housing is a lensfor a camera and a dental instrument extending from the first end of thehousing, the dental instrument having a working tip, wherein the camerahas a line of sight in line with the working tip of the dentalinstrument.
 2. The dental tool apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:an aperture in the first end of the housing, wherein the dentalinstrument extends from the aperture.
 3. The dental tool apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein the dental instrument is removably attachable to thehousing within the aperture.
 4. The dental tool apparatus of claim 1further comprising: at least one light source on the first end of thehousing for illuminating the working tip of the dental instrument. 5.The dental tool apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one lightsource is a light emitting diode.
 6. The dental tool apparatus of claim1 further comprising a motor within the housing for moving the dentalinstrument.
 7. The dental tool apparatus of claim 6, wherein the motoris coupled to a power source.
 8. The dental tool apparatus of claim 7,wherein the power source is rechargeable.
 9. The dental tool apparatusof claim 1 further comprising: a controller associated with the dentaltool apparatus for controlling the dental tool apparatus.
 10. The dentaltool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dental instrument is selectedfrom the group consisting of a powered dental brush, a gum stimulator, amirror, a pick and a scaler.
 11. A dental tool system comprising: adental tool apparatus comprising a housing, a first end and a secondend, wherein on the first end of the housing is a lens for a camera anda dental instrument extending from the first end of the housing, thedental instrument having a working tip, wherein the camera has a line ofsight in line with the working tip of the dental instrument; and adisplay associated with the dental tool apparatus for displaying imagesfrom the lens on the first end of the housing.
 12. The dental toolsystem of claim 11 further comprising: a base, wherein the dental toolapparatus is removably attachable to the base.
 13. The dental toolsystem of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a recharging element, andfurther wherein the dental tool apparatus is electrically recharged whenattached to the base.
 14. The dental tool system of claim 11 wherein thedisplay is wirelessly connected to the dental tool apparatus.
 15. Thedental tool system of claim 12 further comprising: a plurality ofholders within the base, wherein the base holds a plurality of dentalinstrument inserts within the holders.
 16. The dental tool system ofclaim 11 wherein the display is a smart phone or a tablet computer. 17.The dental tool system of claim 11 wherein the dental tool apparatusfurther comprises a processing board.
 18. The dental tool system ofclaim 17, wherein the processing board comprises a controller forcontrolling the dental tool apparatus.
 19. The dental tool system ofclaim 17, wherein the processing board processes video that is receivedby the dental tool apparatus via the lens.
 20. The dental tool system ofclaim 17, wherein the processing board wirelessly sends video to thedisplay.